1. MEW – AND THE GLASS HANDED KITES

Hands down the best album of the year. The subtleties and beauty of Sigur Ros melded with the heavy prog stylings of classic Yes. Maybe the most well constructed album ever as songs melt into one another and the lyrics tease you to try to decipher their meanings.

2. PLACEBO – MEDS

From the industrial creepiness of “Space Monkey” to the dynamic “Broken Promise” Placebo continues to make the best rock albums of the last 10 years.

3. PEEPING TOM – PEEPING TOM

We waited years for Mike Patton’s Peeping Tom project and it was worth every moment.

4. MUGISON – LITTLE TRIP

This soundtrack proves that Mugison is the best kept secret of the musical world. Listen to him now so you can say you were there before anyone else knew how damn good he was!

5. DITTY BOPS – MOON OVER THE FREEWAY

A sweet collection of melodies and forgotten musical styles.

6. LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM – UNDER THE SKIN

With just a guitar and his voice this songwriter’s songwriter shows that he can both shred and send a message at the same time.

7. TANGO SALOON – TANGO SALOON

The third Ipecac album in my best of the year means Greg Werckman and Mike Patton are doing something right, and they probably own me lunch. A tango, jazz, Cuban, spaghetti western masterpiece.

I know it’s cheating but 2006 was reissue heaven for me so my final three are grouped together. First off Some Bizzare remastered and reissued EINSTURZENDE NEUBATEN’s essential Haus der Luege, Five on the Open-ended Richter-scale, Drawings of Patient O.T., and the masterpiece Halber Mensch. Rhino/Wea started the DEPECHE MODE Collector’s edition CD/SACD + DVD series beginning with Violator, Music for the Masses, and Speak & Spell. This series features remastered albums, 5.1 audio mixes, extra tracks, and behind the scenes DVDs. It’s like the Criterion edition of these albums. Wea and Elektra records re-released 4 great CURE albums; Three Imaginary Boys, Pornography, Kiss me, Kiss, me, Kiss me, and The Head on the Door. All of which come with a full extra disc of demos, remixes and live tracks. What a great year to be alive!